Franklin Police and Fire High School
Encyclopedia
Franklin Police and Fire High School is a high school in the Phoenix Union High School District
, Phoenix, Arizona
, USA. The campus is located at 1645 West McDowell Road, in Phoenix, Arizona. Franklin’s enrollment is 280 students and hosts 9-12 graders. Phoenix Union’s Franklin Police and Fire High School is the first of its kind in the nation, offering a high school education and a head start
to a career in public safety. Public safety professionals teach the career classes and the school partners with the City of Phoenix, its police and fire departments, and other agencies to provide students with real world opportunities such as internships, physical training and special employment programs.
After Phoenix Elementary closed the school, Phoenix Union used the building to house its Desiderata Program
for special needs students in the 1990s. The school fell into disrepair and stood abandoned for several years. Phoenix Union purchased it in 2004 and took on the task of bringing the school building back to life, dealing with environmental issues with the property and strict adherence to historical restoration. The part of the building from the 1920s and 1930s required hardwood flooring and custom wood windows and doors. Tiles on the roof was fabricated locally to the color and size specifications of the time period.
Phoenix Union High School District
The Phoenix Union High School District is a school district based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is one of the state's oldest school districts and its largest high school-only district, serving 26,000 students in 17 schools and employing more than 2,800 people...
, Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, USA. The campus is located at 1645 West McDowell Road, in Phoenix, Arizona. Franklin’s enrollment is 280 students and hosts 9-12 graders. Phoenix Union’s Franklin Police and Fire High School is the first of its kind in the nation, offering a high school education and a head start
Head start (positioning)
In positioning, a head start is a start in advance of the starting position of others in competition, or simply toward the finish line or desired outcome...
to a career in public safety. Public safety professionals teach the career classes and the school partners with the City of Phoenix, its police and fire departments, and other agencies to provide students with real world opportunities such as internships, physical training and special employment programs.
School history
Franklin School was built in 1926 by the Phoenix Elementary School District. Wings were added in 1935 and 1936, and those wings were expanded to its current configuration in 1945. Designed by local architect Jay Knapp, important decorative elements included porthole gable ventilators, cast stone tablets and keystones, and a frieze-like panel with the inscription of the school name.After Phoenix Elementary closed the school, Phoenix Union used the building to house its Desiderata Program
Desiderata Program
Desiderata Program is part of the Phoenix Union High School District. The campus is located at 2920 North 34th Drive, in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Desiderata's enrollment is 21 students. Desiderata serves the needs of students with severe behavior problems & emotional disabilities...
for special needs students in the 1990s. The school fell into disrepair and stood abandoned for several years. Phoenix Union purchased it in 2004 and took on the task of bringing the school building back to life, dealing with environmental issues with the property and strict adherence to historical restoration. The part of the building from the 1920s and 1930s required hardwood flooring and custom wood windows and doors. Tiles on the roof was fabricated locally to the color and size specifications of the time period.
Facts
- Franklin features law enforcement, fire science and emergency medical services training, and partners with Phoenix Police DepartmentPhoenix Police DepartmentThe Phoenix Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the city of Phoenix, Arizona.Today, the Phoenix Police Department comprises more than 3,500 officers and 700 support personnel who protect a population of more than 1.6 million and patrol almost of the sixth largest city...
and Fire Departments for internships, career opportunities and hands-on training, including a 911 emergency operator course. - The restored building opened in October, 2007, and in 2008-09 welcomed its first 9th and 10th grade classes.
- The Franklin name came with the building, originally built in 1926, but it fits with the school's new mission. Ben Franklin established the first fire department in this country in Philadelphia.